J. Michael Ruane Judicial Center

Revitalizing Court Facilities and Historic Church: Innovative Consolidation and Relocation Project Enhances Judicial Resources

The Ruane Judicial Center was a Chapter 149-A, 191,000-square-foot project that consolidated five court departments into two adjacent buildings, offering opportunities for shared resources and building efficiencies. A total of 11 new courtrooms provide fully-accessible judicial facilities that meet current national court standards.

As part of the project, the historic First Baptist Church of Salem was relocated and carefully renovated to serve as a new Law Library. The original balconies, coved ceilings, chandeliers, intricate plaster medallions and moldings were retained.

Preparation for the move included shutdown of all underground and overhead utilities, demolition of foundation walls, leveling of the move route with the installation of engineered fill, as well as the construction of a new foundation and basement.

Given the design of the church, the entire span of the roof was supported by the walls. The walls were reinforced to resist spreading under the weight of the roof during the move. The design of the new foundation allowed for removal of the support frame with the foundation walls being built to the plane of separation rather than having the church structure lowered onto the foundation.

The project was bordered by very busy streets to the north, west and south and involved extensive site preparation including the demolition of three existing houses, the removal of two traffic ramps and the installation of a foundation for the relocated First Baptist Church.

Project Highlights

• The project team used BIM from the outset of the design phase for coordination and clash detection. During the construction phase the team used BIM for MEP and subcontractor coordination, phasing and scheduling of the work.
• DOC provided preconstruction and construction services
• Logistically complex project site